Submersible pump



M. S. HALL Nov. 29, 1966 SUBMERSIBLE PUMP 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, 1964 INVENTOR. MALCOLM S. HALL ATTORNEY SUBMERS IBLE PUMP Filed Nov. 2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllllllllllllllll INVENTOR MALCOLM S. HALL BY W ATTOR N E.Y

1966 M. s. HALL 3,288,074

SUBMERSIBLE PUMP Filed Nov. 2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. MALCOLM S. HALL BYQWNKZM ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,288,074 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 3,288,074 SUBMERSIBLE PUMP Malcolm S. Hall, St. Louis County, Mo., assignor to Weber Industries, Inc., Affton, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Nov. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 408,229 3 Claims. (Cl. 103-87) This invention relates in general to pumps and more particularly to a submersible pump of the multi-stage, diffuser type.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a submersible multi-stage centrifugal pump unitarily assembled with a motor and valve body, and being adapted for reception within well casings.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pump of the character stated incorporating diffuser units which are so constructed as to effect the development of pressure heads substantially greater than that produced by currently available units.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a vertically presented submersible pump embodying a multiplicity of superimposed diffuser units having unique interengaging means for maintaining the components thereof in stable, reliably-operative relationship.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a submersible pump of the type stated which is provided with novel means for journaling the upper end of the pump shaft so as to render same independent of the valve body, thereby permitting of effective assembly of the pump shaft prior to integrating the pump with the valve body, and thus overcoming serious assembly problems heretofore encountered in the production of pumps of this general character.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a submersible pump which is economically produced; the components of which are relatively few in number and are adapted for production from highly durable materials thereby rendering the pump resistant to breakdown with attendant inconvenience and hazard; which operates in a marked highly efficient, consistent and reliable manner.

Other objects and details of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings (three (3) sheets), wherein FIGURE 1 is a vertical view, partially in section, of a submersible pump constructed in accordance with, and embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of an intermediate diffuser.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view of the intermediate diffuser shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of an intermediate back plate.

FIGURE 9 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a bottom plan view of the intermediate back plate shown in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of the top diffuser.

FIGURE 12 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 1212 of FIGURE ll.

FIGURE 13 is a bottom plan View of the top back plate.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A generally indicates a submersible pump adapted for presentation, as within Well casings, for delivery of water from substantial depths, which comprises a pump assembly, indicated broadly B, received within a tubular pump body or shell 1, a valve body, denoted C, being formed as of cast iron and mounted on the upper end of said pump body 1, and a prime mover indicated D, being secured to the lower end of said pump body 1. Valve body C, which is of general tubular character, at its upper or discharge end is tapped, as at 2, for engagement to an upwardly progressing discharge conduit (not shown). Below its upper end, valve body C is integrally provided with a partition or spider 3 centrally apertured as at 3 for receiving a valve-seat-forming bushing 4 for co-action with a poppet valve 5 having a downwardly extending stem 6. Stem 6 is slideably disposed within a guide sleeve 7 carried Within an opening 8 formed in a support arm 8' projecting radially inwardly from the wall of valve body C; there being provided an enlarged detent 9, such as a nut, at the lower end of said stem 6 for limiting the upward travel of said poppet valve 5 under pressure of water flowing upwardly through valve body C for discharge. The wall of valve body C at its lower end is substantially increased as may be seen at 10, and is externally threaded at 11 for engagement with internal threading 12 provided at the upper end of pump body 1. At its lower end, pump body 1 is similarly internally threaded, as at 13, for engagement with the external threads 14 formed at the upper end of a tubular bracket 15 which in its lower portion is substantially cut-away, as at 16, to provide a water inlet which is covered by an annular perforated intake screen 17 suitably fixed in position by screws 18 threaded into continuous sections (not shown) of said bracket 15. The lower end of bracket 15 is constituted of a flat plate 19 providing a mounting for prime mover D, the upper end of which is secured thereto as by bolts 20.

Prime mover D is preferably a water-cooled motor and encompasses .a drive shaft (not shown) engaged by a coupling indicated at c, to a preferably splined, pump shaft 21 to allow for positive drive and exact alignment between pump assembly B and prime mover D. Said shaft 21 extends oo-axially through pump body 1 with its upper end terminating slightly below the upper end edge of said pump body 1 and with said end being journaled in a unique manner to be described hereinbelow.

Between its threaded connections, at its lower end to bracket 15 and at its upper end to valve body C, pump assembly B incorporates a plurality of superimposed diffuser units, designated a, providing the multi-stage character of pump A. Diifuser units d are each of three-part composition comprising a back plate 22, an impeller 23, and a diffuser 24 with the impeller being disposed between its associated back plate and diffuser. The number of units d comprising pump body 1 will be necessarily determined by the particular pressure requirements. Back plates herein indicated by the reference numeral 22 are of the intermediate type, that is other than the lower end and the top most back plates in pump assembly B which will be described hereinafter. Said back plates 22 are illustrated in detail in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, to which reference is now made. Each back plate 22 is constructed desirably of a suitable thermoplastic and is of circular form for fitted disposition within pump body 1 and including a transverse wall 25 with a central opening 26 of greater diameter than pump shaft 21 for free extension of the same therethrough. Rimming central opening 26 is an insert 26, as of stainless steel. Upstanding from transverse wall 25 is an annular flange 27 having a rim 28 extending circumferentially about, and projecting radially outwardly from the outer face of said flange 27 approximately intermediate its height. Rim 28 forms an upper and a lower abutment shoulder 29, 30, respectively. On its lower face, each back plate 22 is provided with a plurality of arcuate guide vanes 31, being preferably six in number. Each of said vanes 31, at its outer end, is provided with a curved base portion 32' formed on a circle concentric with the respective back plate 22, but of reduced radius relative to flange 27. Adjacent vanes 31 cooperate to form intervening passages 32 which terminate at their inner ends substantially at opening 26, and at their outer ends between the base portions 32' of the proximate vanes 31.

Formed within the base portion 32 of each vane 31 is a vertically extending indentation or recess 33 providing an index slot for purposes presently appearing.

Impellers 23 are of the enclosed type, having upper and lower shrouds 34, 35, respectively, with an enlarged eye 36 provided centrally in lower shroud 35, andhaving a relatively short, depending, peripheral skirt 37. Formed between said shrouds 34, 35, is a plurality of curved, radial vanes 38, co-acting to define passageways 39, directing water outwardly from eye 36. Integral with top shroud 34, and centrally thereof, is an elongated hub 40 internally splined for positive mounting upon pump shaft 21 whereby the related impeller 23 is rotated for effecting discharge of water, by means of centrifugal force, through the open ends of passageways 39. Each hub 40 embodies an upper and lower extension 41, 42, respectively, with the latter projecting axially through eye 36. The diameter of impellers 23 is slightly less than the diameter of transverse wall 25 of the associated, underlying back plate 22, whereby in assembled state, lower shroud 35 will be disposed within flange 27 of such back plate 22, but being spaced thereabove by virtue of the relationship of the hub extensions of the juxtapositioned impellers 23 to allow unimpeded rotation of said impellers 23. Skirt 37 and lower extension 42 of each of hub 40 will project into opening 26 of said associated back plate 22.

With the exception of the top-most diffuser, diffusers 24 are each circular, with a transverse wall 43 having a central opening 44- within which is mounted a metallic liner or bushing 45 for joint-covering, bearing relationship with the upper extension 41 of hub 40 of the underlying impeller 23 and the lower extension 42 of hub 40 of the overlying impeller 23; which said extensions are in abutting condition (see FIGURE 3). Thus, opening 44 is of sufiicient diameter to receive pump shaft 21 and the encircling impeller hub portions. Continuous with transverse wall 43 and projecting both upwardly and downwardly therefrom is a circumferential flange 46. Provided spacedly about the inner face of flange 46 throughout its extent is a plurality of ducts 47 extending through transverse wall 43 and being of downwardly decreasing cross-section for communicating at their lower ends with the outer ends of impeller passageways 39 to receive water discharged therefrom. Each diffuser 24 incorporates spaced index tabs 48, extending inwardly from flange 46 above wall 43 for reception within the complementary slots 33 of the overlying back plate 22, and with the upper edge of flange 46 abutting against shoulder 30 of rim 28 of the said back plate 22 (FIG- URE 3). The lower end edge of flange 46 similarly abuts shoulder 29 of the next below back plate 22.. By the just-described means for effecting an interengagement between the back plate and diffuser of each diffuser unit d pump assembly B is rendered reliably stable. It will be seen that the distance between the transverse wall 25 of back plate 22 and transverse wall 43 of the associated diffuser 24 is such as to provide a chamber for accommodating the related impeller 23, preventing undesired contact between the shrouds thereof and the said transverse walls so that said impellers are free for unrestricted rotation therein. ments carried by back plates 22 and diffusers 24 conduce to simplicity in assembly, allowing for relatively rapid production of the pump assembly B in positive rigid relation. Furthermore, it will be noted that the upper face of lower shroud 35 of impellers 23 will be subst-antially surface-wise aligned with the upper end edge of flange 27 of related back plate 22, which latter forms the base of the water-receiving ducts 47 of the related diffuser 24 of the particular unit d.

Each diffuser unit d operates in the following manner? Water entering pump A through intake screen 17 will be pulled or drawn upwardly by the suction created by the.

rotating impellers 23 for flow through the eye 36 thereof,

thence outwardly along passages 39 for discharge into i the lower ends of ducts 47 of the adjacent or immediately superimposed difluser 24. From the upper end of said ducts 47, the water will then be returned to the axis of said pump A by passages 32, between the vanes 31 of the next above back plate 22 for flow through the related opening 26 and the eye 36 of the overlying inipeller 23 for the next succeeding cycle. Thus, as the water passes through each diffuser unit d, the same will flow axially of pump A and then be directed radially outwardly by the impellers and then returned for repetitive action, with increasing build-up of the pressure head.

As can be seen in FIGURE 1, the lowermost back plate 22' will be, understandably, devoid of vanes 31 on its under surface, and restingly abuts in its outer under portion upon the upper end face of bracket 15 with the lower shoulder 30 of the related rim 28 developing a snug joint with a complementary rim 15 on bracket 15. The topmost back plate, as indicated at 181 (FIGURES 1 and 13) which is the upper end component of pump assembly B, is in all respects similar to intermediate back plates 22 below described, with the exception of being provided with a relatively enlarged central opening 182 which thus causes the respective vanes 183 to .be

of less extent than vanes 31 of back plates 22. The increased diameter establishes an adequate outlet for pump assembly B and permitting of extension therethrough of a shaft bearing to be described below.

The uppermost diffuser is basically of the same construction as intermediate diffusers 24 except that the opening 44 in the transverse wall 43' thereof is ringed by an upstanding 'h-ub 121 reinforced by plurality of cir-- cumferentially spaced, radially outwardly extending buttresses 122. On its inner surface, hub 121 is rigid with a shaft bearing 124, the lower end of which is surfacealigned with the under face of the transverse wall 43', and the upper portion of which projects through the enlarge-d opening 182 of back plate 181 for termination slightly below the upper end of pump body 1. Encircling the portion of pump shaft 21 extending co-axially through shaft bearing 124 is a shaft sleeve 125 for adapting the upper end of said shaft 21 for journaling in said bearing 124. Shaft sleeve 125, which projects above the upper end of shaft 21 is maintained against dislodgment by a washer 125' secured by a locking screw 126 threadedly received within a tapped, axial opening 127 in the upper At its lower end, shaft sleeve 125 1 end of said shaft 21. is supported by the upper edge of the upper hub portion 41 of the impeller 23 immediately therebelow.

Furthermore, the unique indexing ele-;

(See FIGURES land 3.) Thus, the upper end bearing for i body C, so that full assurance of a proper and accurate journaling of the shaft is permitted, independently of any interconnection or interfitting of said pump body with valve body C. The back plates, impellers and diffusers incorporated in pump assembly B may be economically formed from any suitable, non-reactive durable material, such as, preferably, thermo-plastics which have low co-eificients of friction and dimensional stability.

Thus, in view of the foregoing, it will be seen that submersible pump A incorporates many unique features representing advances in the pump art for conducing to more eificient pumping as by development of greater pressure heads within units which are relatively compact; and which pumps incorporate novel expedients for conducing to efficient, rapid and economical assembly.

It should be understood that changes and modifica tions in the formation, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the submersible pump may be made and substituted for these herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a multi-stage, centrifugal submersible pump, a pump body comprising a plurality of diffuser units, each diffuser unit comprising a back plate having upper and lower central planar portions, a diffuser having upper and lower planar surface portions, and an impeller disposed between said diffuser and back plate, liquid guide vanes being provided on the under surface of said back plates, means for effecting rotation of said impeller, each impeller being of the enclosed type having an upper and lower shroud, the said upper shroud of said impeller being in spacedly parallel, underlying relationship with respect to the lower planar portion of the related diffuser, the lower shroud of said impeller being in spacedly parallel, overlying relationship with respect to the upper central planar portion of the associated back plate, the liquid guide vanes upon the said back plate cooperating with the upper planar central portion of the diffuser of the adjacent diffuser unit cooperating to define liquid passageways said lower shroud having a centrally provided eye, a peripheral skirt depending from the edge of said eye, each back plate having an enlarged central aperture, the skirt of the related impeller extending downwardly into the aperture of the related back plate, and means for effecting stable interrelationship between said back plate and said diffuser.

2. In a multi-stage, centrifugal submersible pump having a pump body and a pump shaft extending axially therethrough, the improvement comprising a plurality of diffuser units arranged in vertically superimposed relationship within said pump body, each diffuser unit comprising a back plate, a diffuser, and an impeller disposed between said back plate and said diffuser, means for engaging said impeller upon said shaft for rotation therewith, the diffuser of the uppermost diffuser unit having a central opening, a hub extending upwardly from said central opening, a shaft bearing engaged to said hub and projecting upwardly therefrom, said shaft extending through said bearing, and means adapting said shaft for journaling within said bearing.

3. In a multi-stage, centrifugal submersible pump having a pump body and a pump shaft extending axially therethrough, the improvement comprising a plurality of diffuser units arranged in vertically superimposed relationship within said pump body, each diffuser unit comprising a back plate, a diffuser, and an impeller disposed between said back plate and said diffuser, means for engaging said impeller upon said shaft for rotation therewith, the diffuser of the uppermost diffuser unit having a central opening for extension of said pump shaft therethrough, shaft bearing means provided integrally with said diffuser, and means mounted on said shaft for adapting same for journaling within said bearing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,748,713 6/ 1956 Buchi 103108 2,954,739 10/1960 Lung 103108 X 3,051,090 8/1962 Zumbusch 103108 3,103,892 9/ 1963 McFarland 103-108 3,158,295 11/1964 McCon-aghy 103108 X FOREIGN PATENTS 539,373 9/1941 Great Britain.

ROBERT WALKER, Primary Examiner, 

1. IN A MULTI-STAGE, CENTRIFUGAL SUBMERSIBLE PUMP, A PUMP BODY COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF DIFFUSER UNITS, EACH DIFFUSER UNIT COMPRISING A BACK PLATE HAVING UPPER AND LOWER CENTRAL PLANAR PORTIONS, A DIFFUSER HAVING UPPER AND LOWER PLANAR SURFACE PORTIONS, AND AN IMPELLER DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID DIFFUSER AND BACK PLATE, LIQUID GUIDE VANES BEING PROVIDED ON THE UNDER SURFACE OF SAID BACK PLATES, MEANS FOR EFFECTING ROTATION OF SAID IMPELLER, EACH IMPELLER BEING OF THE ENCLOSED TYPE HAVING AN UPPER AND LOWER SHROUD, THE SAID UPPER SHROUD OF SAID IMPELLER BEING IN SPACEDLY PARALLEL, UNDERLYING RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO THE LOWER PLANAR PORTION OF THE RELATED DIFFUSER, THE LOWER SHROUD OF SAID IMPELLER BEING IN SPACEDLY PARALLEL, OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO THE UPPER CENTRAL PLANAR PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATED BACK PLATE, THE LIQUID GUIDE VANES UPON THE SAID BACK PLATE COOPERATING WITH THE UPPER PLANAR CENTRAL PORTION OF THE DIFFUSER OF THE ADJACENT DIFFUSER UNIT COOPERATING TO DEFINE LIQUID PASSAGEWAYS SAID LOWER SHROUD HAVING A CENTRALLY PROVIDED EYE, A PERIPHERAL SKIRT DEPENDING FROM THE EDGE OF SAID EYE, EACH BACK PLATE HAVING AN ENLARGED CENTRAL APERTURE, THE SKIRT OF THE RELATED IMPELLER EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY INTO THE APERTURE OF THE RELATED BACK PLATE, AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING STABLE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAID BACK PLATE AND SAID DIFFUSER. 